Reverence for the Reverend
I can't believe it has been a year since my last Blog. Oh well... This year in June we had our family reunion, again in Corning, California. It was a smaller group then we have had in the past. Weather was beautiful, as a cool breeze kept us feeling just right.
Whenever I mention my the Wilder family reunion, I'm often asked "What do you do at the reunion?" Well, mostly visit with each other, talk about our family history and share our home made treats. This year I got to the reunion late, just as everyone was heading to the table to fill up their plates with BBQ Meat Balls, Chili Beans, Fried Chicken, an assortments of Casseroles and Salads. We have quite the feast, and everyone always leaves room for desert.
I usually show up with my copy of "The Book of Wilders", my family tree chart, and often something to "show and tell"; a family item passed down from my great grandmother, Sally Ann Wilder. But alas, this year I did not get to any of this as I arrived late so I spent my time with cousins talking about the mystery of where Thomas Wilder was from in England.
As I've mentioned on the Website, for two hundered years we believed Thomas Wilder, our founding father and Nicholas and Martha Wilder were related all coming from Nunhide, Sulham, England. Thomas was supposedly their brother. However, DNA tests proved this to be incorrect. So, we have been working on finding out where our founding Wilder father, Thomas Wilder was from, not as easy as it might sound.
So that gets me to the "Reverence for the Reverend": The title of this Blog. Reverend Moses Wilder took up the challenge of capturing the story of the Wilders. He was the author of "The Book of Wilders" that was first printed in 1878. He did all the research, interviewed the extended family and tried his best to identify the branches of the family tree. I'm sure when we was working on the book he struggled with the details of the Thomas/NIcholas/Martha connection, but there seemed to be only those two Wilder families in early Massachusetts. Certainly they were related. I can understand the thinking that went on to reconcile any gaps in hard information: Thought not exceedingly wealthy, Thomas had money when he arrived and married. He was able to write his own name, although spelled it Wylder. He became a citizen of good standing in his new home. Surely he was cut from the same cloth as the Wilders that hearkened from the landed class in England. But where was the documentation. Where is the ships manifest that shows his trip from England to America? What family did he leave behind in England? What was his upbringing? He did not have a trade as when he settled in America he farmed. Without the paperwork we have one path to take. Additional DNA testing in England.
I admire Reverend Moses for the work he did in capturing the family line. Giving Wilder's the opportunity to document the stories of their immediate families, searching out missing families and preserving for generations the legacy of Thomas Wilder here in America. He did the difficult work, without computer, the telephone, DNA or the Mormons :). We'll see if we can take this any further and solve the mystery of where Thomas Wilder is from. Cross your fingers. I've asked one of our male descendants to participate in additional test at www.livingDNA.com. This might narrow down the area of England we should investigate. All and any comments appreciated.
The Book of the Wilders was reprinted by Dr. Edwin Wilder. His family has kept up the edition and several are still available. If you are interested in getting a copy, visit the website www.BookOfTheWilders.com.